The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-10
SENT UP FOR SIX YEARS.
A HOTLY CONTESTED CASE ENDS
IN CONVICTION.

Joe Cannon EVadeS the Law Tor TWO
Years, But Will Serve a Term for
Assault With Intent to Murder
Indictments Found by the Grand
Juries Small Matters From the
Courts.
The trial of Joe Cannon, (colored), for as
sault with intent to murder, which occurred
yesterday in the Superior Court, was the
hardest fought case that has been tried.
during the present term. Oct Z 1885,
Cannon cut Joe Miller, (colored, with
razor or knife, and it was thought for some
time that Miller would die. Cannon fled
after the cutting, but at that time did not
leave the city. He was lseen about here
several times, and Miller saw him on the
street more than once.
No warrant was taken out, however,
but in the autumn of 1886 Cannon went
away and remained out of the city
for some time, returning during
the month of November. 1t was
then learned that he had S25, which
he had placed in the keep
ing of man named Jones.
When this was discovered Constable Burke
informed Justice Naughtin of the fact. and
it was then that Joseph Miller went before
for the arrest of Cannon, who was soon
thereafter taken into custody. He gave
bond for his appearance but has not been
seen since until a short while ago. When
he came back an Indictment was found
against him and he was brought to trial
yesterday.
sLAsHED WITH A RAZOR.
Joseph Miller testified that on the night of
the cutting he went to his home, on New
a,, / l-f.a md hat ITTllp
White, n woman who lives in the house and
with whom he was on intimate terms, and
Cannons wife, had been quarrelling. AS
he went into the yard clothes line struck
him across the forehead. He went into the
house and got a Ratchet. Returning, he
cut the clothes line and then he heard
Cannon and Julia White quarrelling.
He went to where they were and
attempted to stop them. Cannon asked
him if he intended to take Julia's
part. Miller replied that he would not;
that he did not want to get into a row.
Cannon and he did begin to quarrel how
ever, and finally Cannon asked if he wanted
to have a fight. He replied that he was
ready for a fair fight. "Wel,n said Can
non, throw away that Ratchet" Miller
threw the Ratchet aside and Cannon sprang
at him with razor and cut the back of his
neck from ear to ear. The two men
grapppled and fell to the ground. While
they were scuffling Cannon cut two long
gashes in Miller's back. Several people
then rushed up and Cannon leaped the
fence and ran off.
AN UPLIFTED RATCHET
| Cannons statement was that when he
began the quarrel with Miller he saw the
hatchet in Miler's hand. and fearing an
attack he drew knife which he held in his
hand. Miller then advanced upon him with
the Ratchet uplifted He caught Miller's
wrist TO prevent his striking him and
grappled with him. He did the cutting
during the fracaS, and did it accidentally,
not meaning to intiict any wounds.
S. b. Adams, Esq, who represented
Cannon, put up no witnesses and aYailed
himself of the privilege of speaking last
Solicitor General duBignon argued i'll bis
speech that CannOn's whole defense was the
plea of accident: that the State had proved
that Miller was not advancing upon Can
non when Cannon committed the assault,
but had thrown his hatche5 aside, and,
therefore, the assertion of the defendant
that the cutting was accidental could not be
true.
Mr.. Adams said that while the defendant
did assert that tho cutting was accidental,
that was not his only Defense that even if
he had cut Miller Intentionally he would not
have been guilty of any crime, as Miller
was advancing upon him, and he acted only
in self-defense. He also argued that the
| prosecution was not a bona fide one, as Mil
Ter had been urged to it by some one around
Naughtin's office.
RECOMMENDED TO MERCY.
The jury found a verdict of guilty, but
added the recommendation to mercy.
In passing sentence Judge Adams said he
could not see on what grounds the recon-
mendation was based, but it would be
regarded, nevertheless, and the sentence,
| hta n i
Tertiary.
Mr. Adams gave notice that he would
move for a new trial, and Judge Adams
granted stay of the execution of the SEN
tence until the motion could be argued.
Cicero Low was arraigned for trial on a
charge of burglary, but by the advice of
his attorney, W. r.. Leaken, Esq, he
pleaded guilty to larceny from the house of
goods of the value of less than $50, and he
was sentenced to twelve months on the
chain gang.
Samuel Kelsey was convicted of larceny
after trust and sentenced to one year in the
penitentiary.
| The commission OF A. j. j. BlolS as Notary
Public was renewed.
The grand Jury indicted Mike J. Hennessy,
William Neusel and William DeIoach for
assault with intent to murder; Sorry
Mitchell, simple larceny, and Henry Baker,
burglary.
IN THE CITY COURT.
The City Court grand jury met yesterday
and found indictments against Sallie Spen-
ser, misdemeanor; Rogers Broughton, lar
ceny from the pers IN; E. Moyles, assault
and battery; E. j. Hicks, abandoning his
children, and Joe Williams, malicious mis-
chief in killing hog not his own.
The case of Dennis O'Neil VS.. Elizabeth
Creek, a suit for wages and money loaned,
was tried and verdict rendered for the
plaintiff for $3.50 wages and S1l5 money
loaned.
We Cut From the Start.
Many merchants get all they can for their
goods during the height of the season and
rely on alleged low prices to work off the
surplus stock on the eve of a new season
We think differently. We make it q rule